[Primary and secondary exploratory laparotomy and splenectomy in Hodgkin's disease (author's transl)]

Exploratory laparotomy with splenectomy was performed on 275 patients with hisologically confirmed Hodgkin's disease. In 188 patients the laparotomy was a primary one to determine more precisely the state of the disease. A secondary laparotomy was performed in 87 patients 1-12 years after diagnosis and radiotherapy. In 17.5% of patients the state had to be revised after laparotomy with splenectomy. In 38 the disease had further progressed, while in ten it had slighty regressed. In four cases clinical stage I proved to be stage III. Even prognostically more favourable forms may have progressed at first diagnosis. There was no correlation between B-symptoms and histological type, but there was between B-symptoms and spread of the disease. Calculated spleen weight provided no clue as to spleen involvement. There was no clear relationship between spleen involvement and histological subclassification. Risk-effect analysis indicate that laparotomy with splenectomy was useful because it makes optimal treatment possible.